2012 Summer with McGill’s Community Band

by Michael Clark
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
    Our first band concert started June 1st with a special Friday evening in Monument Park. Our guests that evening were Rotarians from all over Rotary District 7810 that includes clubs from New Brunswick, Canada and Aroostook and Washington counties of Maine. The annual Rotary Conference was being held in Houlton for the first time since 1931.
    At half time, District Governor Leigh Cummings, told the audience that the Houlton amphitheater was a Rotary project and was presented to the Town of Houlton in 1997.  Past District Governor Michael Clark then had the honor of presenting the highest Rotary award, a Paul Harris Fellow, to McGill’s Community Band Director Joe Fagnant for his contribution to the Town of Houlton with the spearheading of the Houlton Community Arts Center at Houlton High School and being the director of McGill’s Band.  As you all know, the band was founded by David McGillicuddy in 1985 and continued to grow under his direction and now with Joe. I might add that David McGillicuddy is, also, a recipient of a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
Contributed photo
END OF THE SEASON — McGill’s Community Band has closed the books on another successful summer concert season.The band regularly drew crowds of more than 100 people to Monument Park every Thursday evening.
    Eleven concerts were held in Monument Park with the last one on Aug. 16 being held in the new auditorium at Houlton High School due to rain.  Pins were presented to band members Isaac Brown, Jerry Riley, Joe Beasley, Pam McGary, Rod Palmer, Bruce Glick, David Flemington, David McGillicuddy, Pam Chernesky, Judy Howard, Harry Roper and Michael Clark for their perfect attendance and being outstanding volunteers.
    A celebration was held at the end of the concert with coffee and punch donated by Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s. The band provided whoopie pies from The Pastry Corner for the audience and everyone enjoyed.
    Along with the great support from the audience when we pass the bucket, our sponsors, The Dunn Family, Horn of Plenty, McDonald’s, Houlton Farms Dairy, Houlton Water Co., Dead River Co., Machias Savings Bank, Madigan Health Care Service, S.W. Collins Co. and Aroostook Eye Care, ensure that we can continue to grow with new music. They also provide us with the many new vests for new musicians and the beautiful posters around town.
    With the help of the Parks and Rec Department keeping the area beautiful, Thursday evenings found Monument Park very colorful with the addition of balloons for the audience from Bank of Maine, Bangor Savings Bank, Machias Bank, Key Bank, Katahdin Trust Co., The County Federal Credit Union and the Houlton Rotary Club.   Houlton Farms Dairy provided ice cream to the audience one evening to the joy of all!
    The local radio station, under the new ownership of Fred Grant, made it possible for a new audience this year … those listening to WBCQ FM and by a live video stream on wbcqfm.com. There were over 1000 hits on the site this summer.
    Over 150 people signed our guest book this summer. There were 20 states represented along with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Vietnam and Germany.
    We look forward to the summer of 2013 to again entertain you on Thursday evenings. If you would like to join the band and have at least a couple of years of musical experience, give me a call at 532-7148. See you all next year!